UnitedHealth Group (UNH) – Analysts’ Recent Ratings Updates

Several brokerages have updated their recommendations and price targets on shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in the last few weeks:

• 12/9/2024 – UnitedHealth Group was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating.
• 12/6/2024 – UnitedHealth Group had its price target raised by analysts at Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. from $610.00 to $640.00. They now have an “outperform” rating on the stock.
• 12/5/2024 – UnitedHealth Group had its price target raised by analysts at Stephens from $605.00 to $675.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 12/3/2024 – UnitedHealth Group had its price target raised by analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $595.00 to $625.00. They now have a “buy” rating on the stock.
• 11/27/2024 – UnitedHealth Group had its price target raised by analysts at Barclays PLC from $603.00 to $655.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 11/20/2024 – UnitedHealth Group was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.
• 11/12/2024 – UnitedHealth Group was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating.
• 10/24/2024 – UnitedHealth Group was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.
• 10/22/2024 – UnitedHealth Group had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $604.00 to $603.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 10/18/2024 – UnitedHealth Group had its price target raised by analysts at TD Cowen from $601.00 to $609.00. They now have a “buy” rating on the stock.
• 10/17/2024 – UnitedHealth Group was downgraded by analysts at Hsbc Global Res from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating.
• 10/17/2024 – UnitedHealth Group was downgraded by analysts at HSBC Holdings plc from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

UNH stock opened at $520.48 on Monday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $581.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $560.31. The stock has a market cap of $478.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $436.38 and a 1 year high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.00 by $0.15. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The business had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $99.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.56 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.72%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 29.1% in the 3rd quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 783,143 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $457,888,000 after purchasing an additional 176,543 shares in the last quarter. 1ST Source Bank boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 5.6% in the third quarter. 1ST Source Bank now owns 1,687 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $986,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Garden State Investment Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 8.4% in the 3rd quarter. Garden State Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,137 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $668,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the period. Copley Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter valued at $786,000. Finally, Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at $44,742,000. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.